Jump to content

AZ Models Gotha G.V 1/48 Build notes


Recommended Posts

Many moons ago I kind of started on this kit, I got a far as gluing the bulkheads to the floor, dry fitting the parts and tried to figure out how to position the gunner's tunnel where it made sense - gave up on that idea and quietly put it back in the box and placed a few more models on top of it hoping I'd forget about it and my kids could dispose of it after I was long gone.  

 

Well, the bug has bit to finish up those models that were never finished.  I struggled with the fuselage trying to get the length of it not to look like a worm, as this one had a tendency to want to curve sideways.  So after fighting this issue for 10-12 minutes I decided to glue it up as true as I could sighting down the spine.  I'll then then add the extra bracing details in the interior.    The tunnel was both glued with Tamiya glue and acc'd in place and then liberal amounts of Tamiya putty was used to blend it into the side walls and bottom of the  fuselage.  

 

I don't remember building a kit with this much putty being used in the first hour nor having to use every clamp I have available and wishing I had more.  Anyway we are off and running.fullsizeoutput_836.jpeg

fullsizeoutput_837.jpeg

fullsizeoutput_838.jpeg

Edited by cduckworth
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/12/2017 at 3:40 PM, Martian Hale said:

You shame me Sir! I must take another look at my half finished build.

 

Martian

Martain

I'm looking at the Windsock Datefile Special on the Gotha series and the color profile (J) on page 43 of Gotha 670/16 shows the fuselage in blue with the wings covered in the five color day printed fabric.  The (very) few built up models I've been on the web of this kit has the wings finished in a solid blue as the kit shows.  The photo referenced is on page 20 and its hard to tell but I'm going with Ray Rimell's and Dr. Merrill's assessment since they had access to the photograph and digging out my lozenge decal sheets.  Will certainly make this a more interesting finish.

 

Charlie

Edited by cduckworth
added wording
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Today I spent considerable time in the body shop (aka kitchen sink) adding putty, wet sanding, putty and wet sanding.  I didn't realize how big of a model this will be as you can see by it resting on my work bench.  I drilled out all the holes for the various struts.  This is going to take a few sheets of lozenge decal sheets.  

 

fullsizeoutput_842.jpeg

fullsizeoutput_846_1.jpegfullsizeoutput_843.jpeg

Edited by cduckworth
Spelling
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Found this wonderful build by von Andreas Martin

http://www.modellversium.de/galerie/23-flugzeuge-ww1/8844-gotha-gv-.html

and translated his article to English.  He ran into a couple of issues with the Hippo model.  Here's his comments: "... the exhaust systems of the engines stand in the way of the correct attachment of the struts to the upper support surface. If you look at the model from the front, the torso braces that are not set in the right angle fall apart, I have noticed this error quite late and it was not possible to make a correction.  the pick-up holes of the struts in the upper half of the wings have been incorrectly set." 

 

So armed with his observations I stared at the few photos of a G.V in the Datafile and decided 1) the engine sat to low and added a piece of Evergreen HO 4"x 4" to raise it up to the proper height and 2) filed the cowling sides and exhaust fins so the engine stand struts would have a chance of of lining up per the prototype.  

fullsizeoutput_847.jpeg

 

The other thing I tackled was one of the sides bowed in a little after I glued it to the walls of the tunnel.  So I added a patch of Evergreen .010 plastic and Tamiya putty and am slowly wet sanding it to eliminate the bow.   

fullsizeoutput_849.jpeg

 

Edited by cduckworth
added photos
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

John

Thanks for the words of encouragement; once I get by the fuselage correction and get the lower wings pinned I'll feel like I'm making headway.  I photocopied the G.V 1/48 plans last night so I have some good references.   The German article was helpful in pointing out some early mistakes I would have missed.  

 

Charlie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, krow113 said:

Tough start.

I'll watch as I'm on the WNW Gotha right now.

If you are building the WNW Gotha I don't think you'll get much out of this build other than being happy you bought a much better designed and engineered kit.  

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, krow113 said:

LOL!!

No worries during my work all things Gotha interest me.

Hit this site , ask about your kit , the guys there will def help you with it.

http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php

 

Thanks for reminding me of the Aerodrome and I'm a member.  Here's what I read 

Per the Gotha! Datafile, the plywood fuselage and vertical tail surfaces would be painted. The wings were also painted until sometime late in the GV series, when printed fabric was used. "Gotha finally introduced printed night lozenge fabric within their G.V series. Surviving fabric from G. 979/16 in the Imperial War Museum is of this type." .................... the few day GV finished as day bombers reportedly used 5 color day loz (which I expect would be printed fabric, as there would be little reason to spend the time to paint the pattern if it was available)

 

So I'm going with the five color printed day loz on the wings and horizontal stabilizer and paint the fuselage and rudder light blue.  Engine cowlings a gray.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you need decent lozenge I would highly recommend Aviattic. I think they do night lozenge too. It would be a shame to go to all this trouble and then have the lozenge colours wrong....

 

ian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know this doesn't look like two days of effort but lots of putty, sanding, Tamiya primer, then repeated several times.  Also saw that the locations for the bottom holes on the engine cowlings were spaced incorrectly comparing them to the holes on the wings.  

fullsizeoutput_84e_1.jpeg

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

No I haven't dropped off the planet;  just out of town with grand daughter's birthday.  The interior framing on the AZ Model is pretty sparse (nice way of saying there is none) so I used some Evergreen HO 2" x 4" and 2" x 2" strips to add some framing.  Am using the Datafile, the Gotha build book and the Wingnuts web site Gotha instructions manual to get the cockpit details figured out.  

 

Mixed up some Vallejo tan and brown for the interior color and added a little Tamiya Clear Yellow to give it a yellow hue.  I'll close the gap in the front today where the two 2" x 2" didn't come together.  Also ordered Aviattic's five color daylight decal sheets to cover the wings and horizontal stabilizer.fullsizeoutput_880.jpeg

 

IMG_3894.jpg

IMG_3893.jpg

 

Edited by cduckworth
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the encouragement; I used 5 minute epoxy and brass wire pins this morning to attach the right lower wing and will get the other one done this afternoon after the glue sets up.  Am glad I copied the 1/48 general arrangement drawings from the DF as lining up these large wings is 'the' critical step in construction.  I don't recall having this much trouble with the Aurora Gotha when I was a kid ^_^    

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The span of the wings was too large for the Datafile GA drawings so to ensure to bottom wings were inlign with the top wing I ran a pencil along the leading edge and used this as a point of reference in gluing the bottom wings.  Not surprising the bottom wings, if butted up against the smaller wing supports, would have had the wrong angles.  Once I felt the bottom wings matched I used gap filling acc to hold them in place.  I just got the plywood bi-plane jig this week and will have a little learning curve on getting it right to hold the wings in place for gluing the struts.  No hurry as there's lots of details to add in the gunners and pilots areas.     

fullsizeoutput_883.jpeg

 

fullsizeoutput_885.jpegfullsizeoutput_886.jpeg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I honestly don't know how one would built this kit without the Datafile GA drawings near your work bench.  All of the strut placement holes in the upper wing had to be redrilled (setting the rear one back) so they were in the same distance as the holes in the lower wing.  I matched the spacing in the DF and the lower wing's matched the GA.  

 

The location holes for the cabane struts from the fuselage were missing and again the GA drawing helped with their locations.  Wings are puttied and glue set up so waiting for the daylight loz to land in my mailbox.  

 

Back to researching and detailing the cockpits and other crew positions.   

fullsizeoutput_88d.jpeg

The rear hole is the correct location.

 

fullsizeoutput_88e.jpeg

Edited by cduckworth
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm using the Wingnuts Gotha builds on the web and instructions to help add some missing details to the AZ Models interior.  Here's three oxygen bottles I made today; while not exact (I used cut off cylinders from a plastic rotary engine for the base) its at least fills a void.  Still need to paint the tube and bags.  

 

 

fullsizeoutput_89b_1.jpeg

12 hours ago, clive_t said:

Looking good. Can I ask, please, what size drill are you using for these new holes?

 

#58 I believe but you might go smaller.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ran into another issue where the location holes are in the wrong spot.  Was attaching the horizontal stabilizers this evening and they were not flush with the top of the fuselage.  Looked over the few photos in the Datafile of the tail section and the model was wrong.  I ended up re drilling the holes slightly higher and they are now both even with the top edge.   To quote Charlie Brown. "Good Grief"....

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...